U.S. patent number 5,425,722 [Application Number 07/960,379] was granted by the patent office on 1995-06-20 for parenteral device.
Invention is credited to Maxwell E. Whisson.
United States Patent |
5,425,722 |
Whisson |
June 20, 1995 |
Parenteral device
Abstract
A parenteral device having a body slidably supporting a hollow
needle. The needle is slidable between a first position in which it
is completely retracted within the body and a second position
wherein a portion of the needle projects outside of the body. The
body further houses a chamber isolated from the needle when the
needle is in the first position. Movement of the needle into the
second position causes an end of the needle to pierce a wall of the
chamber thereby establishing communication between the chamber and
needle.
Inventors: |
Whisson; Maxwell E. (Nedlands,
Western Australia, AU) |
Family
ID: |
25643901 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/960,379 |
Filed: |
January 11, 1993 |
PCT
Filed: |
July 04, 1991 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/AU91/00297 |
371
Date: |
January 11, 1993 |
102(e)
Date: |
January 11, 1993 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO92/00701 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
January 23, 1992 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 20, 1990 [AU] |
|
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PK1835 |
Jul 4, 1991 [AU] |
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PK1008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/200; 604/187;
604/195 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
5/282 (20130101); A61M 5/322 (20130101); A61B
5/15003 (20130101); A61B 5/150404 (20130101); A61B
5/150496 (20130101); A61B 5/150526 (20130101); A61B
5/150633 (20130101); A61B 5/150732 (20130101); A61B
5/153 (20130101); A61B 5/154 (20130101); A61M
5/3129 (20130101); A61M 2005/314 (20130101); A61M
2005/3227 (20130101); A61M 2005/3228 (20130101); A61B
5/150236 (20130101); A61B 5/150244 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
5/15 (20060101); A61M 5/28 (20060101); A61M
5/32 (20060101); A61M 5/31 (20060101); A61M
005/24 (); A61M 005/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/197,200,201,221,227,198,232,213,165,110,164,263,187,197,86,204-206,212,111
;128/763,919 ;433/89,90 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0388169 |
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Mar 1990 |
|
EP |
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2240025 |
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Mar 1975 |
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FR |
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8808315 |
|
Nov 1988 |
|
WO |
|
8904141 |
|
May 1989 |
|
WO |
|
9007349 |
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Dec 1989 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
International Preliminary Examination Report, Apr. 8,
1992..
|
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; C. Fred
Assistant Examiner: Alexander; V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Eckert Seamans Cherin &
Mellott
Claims
I claim:
1. A parenteral device comprising a body, the body having a chamber
which is stationary relative to the body, a hollow needle extending
generally in a forward to rearward direction and having a forward
main straight portion that terminates in a pointed one end with a
first aperture at said pointed one end, the needle being supported
in the body for slidable movement between a first position and a
second position wherein said first position comprises said needle
being fully accommodated in the body, said second position
comprises said one end of said needle extending beyond the body,
said needle having a rearward offset portion that terminates in an
offset end, which offset end has a second aperture, which second
aperture rearward of the first aperture, wherein the body is formed
with a separating wall which sealingly separates the needle from
the chamber; the combination of the offset end and the separating
wall being arranged such that the offset end is directed generally
in the same direction as the forward main straight portion, with
the separating wall being located such that said needle in said
slidable movement from the first position to the second position
orients the offset end for piercing the separating wall that
separates the chamber from the needle and, after the offset end
does pierce the separating wall, causing the second aperture to be
brought into open communication with the interior of the chamber
when in the second position, to allow flow of fluid between the
chamber and first aperture.
2. A parenteral device as claimed at claim 1 wherein the needle is
retained in a substantially enclosed space in the body when in the
first position.
3. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an
initially deactivated retention means that becomes activated when
the needle is moved into the second position, for preventing, once
activated, movement of the needle in the direction from its first
position to its second position, whereby the retention means
retains the needle in the first position on movement of the needle
from the second position to the first position, said retention
means preventing the subsequent movement of the needle from the
first position to the second position.
4. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said retention
means comprises an abutment to be engaged by the needle on movement
towards or away from its second position to cause deformation of
the needle, which deformation allows movement of the needle from
its second position to its first position but prevents subsequent
movement of the needle from its first position to its second
position.
5. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the offset
portion is formed as a continuation of the forward main straight
portion whereby said needle has a substantially hook shaped
configuration.
6. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 5 further
comprising:
an initially deactivated retention means that becomes activated
when the needle is moved into the second position, for preventing
once activated movement of the needle in the direction from its
first position to its second position, whereby the retention means
retains the needle in the first position on movement of the needle
from the second position to the first position, said retention
means preventing the subsequent movement of the needle from the
first position to the second position;
wherein said retention means comprises an abutment to be engaged by
the needle on movement towards or away from its second position to
cause deformation of the needle, which deformation allows movement
of the needle from its second position to its first position but
prevents subsequent movement of the needle from its first position
to its second position; and,
wherein an attitude of the offset portion is varied on engagement
with the abutment such that the offset, portion engages the body on
movement in the direction to the first position to prevent further
movement of the needle in the opposite direction from the first
position to the second position.
7. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device
comprises a cannula.
8. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the chamber
has a main portion remote from the body.
9. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 8 further comprising
means for connecting the chamber to a second chamber remote from
the body.
10. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
parenteral device comprises a syringe where the chamber is
substantially cylindrical and slidably and sealingly receives a
plunger whereby movement of the plunger causes a variation in
volume of the chamber.
11. A parenteral device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chamber
is sealed.
12. A parenteral device as claimed at claim 1 wherein the
separating wall is resiliently flexible.
13. A parenteral device as claimed at claim 12 wherein the
separating wall is resiliently biased to a minimum volume position
of the chamber.
14. A parenteral device as claimed at claim 12 wherein the
separating wall is resiliently biased to a maximum volume position
of the chamber.
Description
THIS INVENTION relates to a parenteral device which may take the
form of a syringe or similar parenteral dispensing device or a
cannula.
In the use of syringes, cannulas and the like which utilise sharp
hollow needles there has been significant awareness recently of the
dangers which exist as a result of the usage and disposal of these
devices. The evidence of such dangers resides in the frequency with
which users of the devices are inadvertently pricked. Such an
injury can result in the transmission of disease.
As a result of these difficulties users of parenteral devices such
as medical clinics, hospitals and the like apply very stringent
procedures in the storage, use and disposal of parenteral devices
which utilise sharp needles. However, despite such very stringent
procedures it is a regular occurrence for professional users to be
inadvertently pricked.
In addition there is a need for the parenteral devices such as
syringes to be generally available to patients for the self
application of parenteral agents to those patients. This is
particularly the case where patients are required to regularly
administer to themselves agents which must be regularly
administered and can only be administered by hypodermic or
intravenous injection. As a result it is necessary for such users
to have readily available to them ampoules which store the active
agent, syringes and needles. When administration is required the
users must assemble the syringe, fill the syringe with the
parenteral agent, inject themselves with the agent and then dispose
of the syringe and needle in a responsible manner. In addition when
administration is required the user can often be experiencing
stress which can make the tasks of assembling the syringe, filling
the syringe, injection and disposal of the syringe a difficult
exercise.
In addition as a result of the use of illegal drugs which are
generally administered intravenously by utilisation of syringes
there has arisen considerable difficulty as a result of the
inappropriate disposal of such syringes by the users of illegal
drugs and the increased danger of transmission of disease due to
such syringes being carelessly disposed of or used by a second
person.
It is an object of this invention to at least partially alleviate
the difficulties that are created by the use and disposal of
conventional syringes by professionals, patients and drug
users.
In one form the invention resides in a parenteral device comprising
a body, said body having a chamber supporting a hollow needle
having a pointed one end formed with a first aperture, said needle
having a second aperture inward of the first aperture, said needle
being supported in the body for slidable movement between a first
position and a second position wherein said first position
comprises said needle being fully accommodated within the body and
said second position comprises said one end of the said needle
extending beyond the body, wherein said needle in its movement from
the first position to the second position is capable of piercing
the chamber and causing the second aperture to be in open
communication with the interior of the chamber when the needle is
at the second position to allow for flow of parenteral fluid
between the chamber and the first aperture through the second
aperture.
According to a preferred form of the invention the chamber of the
parenteral device comprises a sealed chamber which is variable in
volume whereby on the needle being moved to its second position the
parenteral agent which is stored within the chamber can be injected
by a reduction of the volume of the chamber, In this regard the
ejection of the parenteral fluid from the chamber may be effected
by the collapse of the chamber as a result of a resilient biassing
force such that on the needle being moved to its second position
the parenteral agent is automatically ejected through the
needle.
In addition means may be provided in the body to interact with the
needle such that on the needle having been moved from the first
position to the second position its subsequent movement from the
second position to the first position will lockingly retain the
needle in the body to prevent re-use of the parenteral device
and/or the inadvertent extension of the needle from the device once
disposed.
According to a further preferred feature of the invention the
unused parenteral device when having the needle accommodated in its
first position substantially isolates the needle from the
environment exterior to the parenteral device whereby on movement
of the needle initially from the first position to the second
position the one end of the needle pierces a wall or membrane in
the body to become exposed.
According to one form of the invention the second aperture in the
needle is provided in a portion of the needle which is offset from
the main body of the needle and which is caused to extend from the
body and is arranged such that the second aperture is provided in
the end of the offset portion which is caused to pierce the chamber
on its movement to the second position of the needle, This can be
effected by forming the needle into a "hook like" shape where the
hooked portion of the needle which accommodates the second aperture
is of a shorter length than the main body of the needle and is
directed substantially parallel to the main body of the needle.
The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the
following description of several specific embodiments.
The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings
of which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the first embodiment
showing the needle in the first position;
FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the first embodiment
showing the needle in the second position;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the moulding which forms the body of
the embodiment first;
FIG. 4 is an isometric inverted view of the moulding shown at FIG.
3 showing the handle and needle in position;
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the embodiment with the needle in
the first position;
FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation of the second embodiment
showing the needle in the first position;
FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional side elevation of the second
embodiment showing the needle in the second position;
FIG. 8 is a sectional side elevation of the second embodiment
showing the needle in the first position having been moved from
that position to the second position;
FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional side elevation of the third
embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view along the line A--A of FIG.
9;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view along the line B--B of FIG.
9;
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the fourth embodiment of the
invention with the needle in the second position;
FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of the embodiment with the
needle in the first position;
FIG. 14 is a schematic elevation of the fifth embodiment of the
invention with the needle in the first position;
FIG. 15 is a schematic elevation of the fifth embodiment showing
the needle in the second position; and
FIGS. 16 and 17 are a schematic representation of a sixth
embodiment of the invention.
The first embodiment of the invention which is shown at FIGS. 1, 2,
3, 4 and 5 comprises a device which enables the storage of a
parenteral medium with a means of dispensing that parenteral medium
by injection when desired.
The embodiment comprises a moulding of plastics material which
defines a body 11 which is formed as two parts 11a and 11b. The
body 11 is formed by a pressure injection moulding technique or
like technique and has as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the two separate
parts which are hingedly interconnected at their rear edges 12. In
forming the parts 11a and 11b suitable retention means (not shown)
are moulded into the opposing faces such that when opposing faces
of the parts 11a and 11b are brought into face to face engagement
the retention means are inter-engaged to lockably retain the two
parts together.
One part 11a of the body is formed on one exterior face with a
concave depression 13 which is located towards the rear side of the
one part and a recess 14 which is located towards the forward side
of the housing.
In forming the housing the one part 11a of the housing also has
integrally formed with it, by the moulding technique, a thin
laminar member 15 which extends from the forward edge 16 of the one
part 11a adjacent its external face. The laminar member 15 is
formed as a parallel sided strip which extends from the front edge
and terminates with a circular portion 18 having a central portion
19 of complementary configuration to the concave depression 13
which is provided on the one part. In assembling the body the
laminar member 15 is laid over the exterior face of the one part
11a and it is welded or similarly fixed around its edges to the one
part 11a to define a sealed reservoir between itself and the
exterior face of the one part 11a. The sealed space comprises the
volume of the concave depression 13 and the recess 14 together with
the space that is defined between the laminar member 15 and the
exterior face of the one part 11a. The central portion 17 of the
laminar member is formed of a thickness such that it has resilient
flexibility and has a conformity to the depression 13 when placed
over the depression. On application of fluid pressure to the
interior of the space defined between the one part 11a and the
opposed face of the laminar member 15, by the introduction of the
parenteral agent the space can be expanded.
The one part 11a is formed at its forward end with a tongue like
portion 20 which accommodates the recess 14, has substantially
parallel sides and which is overlaid by the parallel sided strip 17
of the laminar member 15. The under face of the tongue like portion
is formed with a groove 21 which extends for a portion of the
length of the tongue 20 but stops short of the recess 14. The lower
face of the groove 21 is formed with a central narrower groove 22
which has the same length as the main groove 21. The inner face of
the other part 11b of the body which is to be disposed in opposed
relation to the groove 20 is formed with a recess such that a
substantial portion of the upper part 11b defines a hollow space 23
on engagement with the one part 11a. A portion of the hollow space
which lies opposite the tongue of the one part when the two parts
are inter-engaged is slightly wider than the tongue to provide a
slot shaped aperture 24 to each side of the tongue (see FIG.
5).
The tongue 20 of the one part 11a of the body supports a handle 25
which is formed with a handle portion 26 which is slidably received
over the exterior face of the tongue 20 and is formed on its
underside with a pair of parallel webs 27 which are located to each
side of the tongue 20 and are received in the slot shaped apertures
24 which are formed between the tongue 20 of the one part 11a and
the hollow space 23 provided on the other part 11b. The parallel
webs are interconnected by a support member 28 which has a
substantially T-shaped profile where the leg 29 of the section is
received in the groove 21 provided on the underface of the one part
11a for movement along the groove. The support provides support for
a hook shaped needle 30 having a main body portion 31 which extends
forwardly from the support parallel to the underface of the one
part 11a of the body. The main body is formed with a first aperture
32 in its free end which comprises the one end of the needle. The
hook portion 33 of the needle extends substantially parallel to the
main portion 31 and is formed with a second aperture 34 in the
other end of the needle. Both the one end and the other end of the
needle are pointed.
The hook portion 33 of the needle 30 is slidably received within
the minor groove 22 provided at the base of the groove 21 which is
formed on the inner face of the one part 11a. The forwardmost end
of the minor groove 22 terminates short of the recess 14 such that
it is separated from the recess 14 by a thin wall. The inner face
of the other part 11b towards the forward end of the space 23
provided in that part is also formed with a third groove 35 which
terminates short of the front face Such that a thin wall is
provided between the end of the third groove 35 and the front face
of the one member.
As a result of the engagement of the handle 25 over the tongue 20
the handle 25 is capable of slidable movement along the tongue 20
from a first position as shown at FIG. 1 where the support 20 is
located towards the rear end of the groove 21 provided in the inner
face of the one part 11a and a second position shown at FIG. 2
where it is located adjacent the front face of the groove. On
movement of the handle from the first position to the second
position the one end of the needle 30 pierces the thin wall
provided at the front end of the third groove 35 to become exposed
to the exterior of the body. The other end of the needle pierces
the wall between the front end of the minor groove 21 and the
recess 14 when the handle is almost at its second position. The
piercing of the recess by the hook portion 33 then provides
communication between the first aperture 32 at the one end of the
needle and the volume defined by the chamber which was formed
between the outer face of the one part 11a and the laminar member
15. As a result there is a flow of fluid from the chamber into the
second aperture 34 through the needle and out of the first aperture
32 on the volume of the chamber being reduced. The reduction of the
volume in the chamber can be effected by the application of
pressure by the central portion 19 of the laminar member which is
located above the depression 13 provided in the body due to the
resilient biassing caused by the expansion of the central portion
when the chamber is filled. Such pressure can also be applied by a
finger or a thumb.
As stated if desired the central portion 19 of the laminar member
15 may have its own resilience and be biassed to a minimum volume
position whereby on the second end 34 of the needle piercing the
recess 14 the Chamber will collapse under the resilient pressure
applied by the central portion 19 to cause the injection of
parenteral medium into the tissue from the one end of the needle.
In such an instance the insertion of the one end of the needle into
the tissue is effected while the needle is being moved from its
first to its second position on the body 11. This can be effected
by locating the front end of the body 11 adjacent to the skin of
the patient and then moving the needle in a single action from the
first position to the second position during which phase it will
enter the tissue of the patient. Alternatively the central portion
19 of the laminar member 15 may have a resilience whereby it is
biassed to a maximum volume position which will require the
application of thumb or finger pressure to effect injection of the
parental agent into the tissue of the patient.
On completion of the injection of the parental medium the needle is
then moved to its first position by rearward movement of the handle
in the body. Once the needle has been safely located into its first
position whereby the one end of the needle is safely accommodated
within the body the device may be disposed of with little
likelihood of there being any inadvertent pricking of any person
who comes into contact with the device. If desired a locking means
may be provided between the body and the handle which will engage
the handle on it being removed rearwardly to the first position and
which will positively lock the handle into its first position.
Alternatively, a biassing means may be provided between the handle
and the body which biasses the handle to the first position whereby
movement of the handle from the first to the second position
requires positive movement against the biassing force and on the
removal of the application force the biassing force will cause the
retraction of the handle and needle.
To fill the chamber defined between the one part 11a and the
laminar member a hollow needle can be caused to pierce the one part
to enter the depression 13 or recess 14 and a parenteral agent is
injected into the chamber. If the body is formed of a suitable
resiliently flexible plastics material the hole caused by the
hollow needle can be self sealing. Alternatively the hole can be
sealed by wadding or by application of a sealant or by gluing.
The embodiment provides a means of safely storing a parenteral
agent in association with a needle whereby when it is required to
effect injection of the parenteral medium into tissue of the
patient there is no requirement for the patient to install the
needle separately to the body of the syringe, nor to fill the
syringe with the parenteral agent before the agent can be applied
as is the conventional technique. Furthermore, prior to use and
subsequent to the use the needle is stored in a position where it
is not accessible for any inadvertent pricking of any user or
person who may handle the syringe.
The second embodiment of the invention which is shown very
schematically at FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 is directed to an application of
the invention to a substantially conventional syringe. The syringe
comprises a substantially hollow cylindrical body 111 having a
closed end 112 which accommodates a plunger 113 having a piston 114
at its inner end which is slidably and sealingly received in the
bore of the cylinder. The syringe is associated with a tubular
member 115 which is fixed to the side of the cylindrical body, is
substantially parallel thereto and has an opening 116 adjacent the
closed end 112 of the cylindrical body. The tubular element
receives a rod shaped member 117 having a handle 118 at its outer
end and which supports at its inner end a hook shaped hollow needle
119. The main body 119a of the needle accommodates the pointed
first end 120 of the needle which lies adjacent the opening 116
when the rod shaped member and needle are in the retracted first
position in the tubular member 115. The hook shaped portion 119b of
the needle provides the second end 121 of the needle which is also
pointed.
The lower portion of the cylinder adjacent the closed end 12 is
formed with a transversely directed portion 122 which defines an
extension of the space defined by the bore of the cylinder and is
formed with a transverse wall 123 which extends into the tubular
member to intersect across the path of the second end 121 of the
needle as the needle is moved from its first position at which the
main body 119a accommodated within the tubular member, to its
second position as shown at FIG. 7, at which the main body of the
needle 119a of the needle and the first end 120 of the needle is
exposed from the body. Towards the end of such movement the second
end 121 of the needle will engage the transverse wall 123 and
pierce that wall such that the aperture provided in the second end
of the needle comes into open communication with the interior of
the chamber defined by the cylindrical body. On manipulation of the
plunger parenteral fluid can be drawn into the cylindrical body by
withdrawing the plunger from the cylindrical body or the parenteral
fluid can be expelled from the chamber through the one end of the
needle by moving the plunger into the cylindrical body.
As a result of the second end 121 of the needle piercing the
transverse wall 123 it is caused to be deformed or bent outwardly.
On completion of the use of the syringe the needle is then
withdrawn to its first position by utilisation of the handle 118
provided on the outer end of the rod member 117. However, due to
the deformation of the hook portion 119b of the needle the other
end of the needle is caused to be brought into engagement with the
interior wall of the tubular member. As a result of the deformed
orientation of the needle the hook shaped portion is able to slide
rearwardly into the tubular member with the application of some
additional effort to the handle 118 but the interference effected
by the engagement of the second end 121 of the needle with the side
wall of the tubular member prevents further movement of the needle
from the first position and thus the needle is locked in the first
position. Furthermore the rod member may be formed with a line of
weakness 124 whereby it can be broken along that line of weakness
and prevent further utilisation of the handle 18 to cause movement
of the needle.
As a result of the second embodiment a syringe is provided whereby
the interior of the chamber of the syringe will remain isolated
until such time as the syringe is required to be used either to
draw parenteral fluid into or for the injection of a parenteral
agent which is stored within the chamber. The movement of the
needle to its extended second position such that the syringe can be
used for the injection of the parenteral agent into tissue of the
body or withdrawal of a parenteral agent from the tissue of the
body can be readily achieved in a simple manual function. Finally
on completion of the usage of the device the needle can be
retracted to a first position at which it is not accessible and the
needle can be locked in that position to prevent any further
inadvertent use of the syringe or inadvertent pricking of any
person who may come into contact with the syringe.
The third embodiment shown at FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 is of a similar
form to the second embodiment shown at FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.
Accordingly, corresponding numerals have been used in relation to
corresponding components between the second and third embodiments.
The difference of the third embodiment from the second embodiment
resides in the presence of an additional retractable 130 needle
which is co-linear and is provided with a second aperture 131 in
its side wall which can be brought into selective engagement with
an aperture provided in the wall of the cylindrical body on the
needle being moved to an extended position. The second needle 130
can be utilised for the withdrawal of a parenteral agent from an
ampoule and on completion of the filling of the chamber of the
syringe the second needle can be moved to a position at which the
needle 119 is .exposed within the body and the first hook shaped
needle is brought into engagement with the chamber to allow for the
injection of the parenteral medium into the body of a patient.
The fourth embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13 comprises a cannula which
is substantially similar to that of the first embodiment described
in relation to FIGS. 1 to 5 except that the chamber includes a
reservoir 140 which is remote from the body of the device and which
is in communication with a recess 141 provided in the body 142 of
the device through a tube 143. The hook portion 145 of the needle
146 can be brought into selective engagement with the recess 141.
It is envisaged that the fourth embodiment would have application
in the collection of fluids such as blood from the body of a
patient whereby the blood collection bag incorporates the cannula
of the embodiment as a unitary component and there is no need for
assembly prior to its utilisation.
The fifth embodiment shown at FIGS. 14 and 15 is directed to an
injection device whereby the needle 160 is of a colinear
configuration and is received on one end of a rod shaped member 161
having a handle 162 at its outer end. The second aperture 163 of
the needle 160 is provided along the length of the needle. As in
the case of the first embodiment the chamber is defined between an
external face of the body 164 and a laminar element 165 which is
bonded around its sides to the external face of the body 164 which
is provided with a concave depression 165 and is formed with an
extension 167 which extends into the body across the path of the
needle as it moves from its first position at which the needle is
fully accommodated within the body to its second position at which
the needle is exposed. On movement of the needle from the first
position to the second position it will pierce the extension 166
and on attaining its second position the second aperture will come
into communication with the interior of the chamber to allow for
the expulsion of the parenteral agent from the chamber through the
hollow needle.
The sixth embodiment of the invention shown at FIGS. 16 and 17
relates to a sampling device. The sixth embodiment is similar in a
very general form to the second embodiment shown at FIGS. 6, 7 and
8 except that the chamber A is defined by a container 210 which has
an open end closed by a cap 211. The cap 211 has a socket which
will sealingly receive the open end of the container 210 and is
formed with a tubular sub housing 215. The sub housing 215
accommodates a needle body having a rod-shaped member 217 with a
handle 218 at its outer end, which supports a hook shaped needle
219 at its other end. As in the second embodiment of FIGS. 6, 7 and
8 the hooked needle is slidably movable between a first position
shown at FIG. 17 at which the one end 220 of the needle is within
the tubular sub housing 215 and a second position shown at FIG. 16
at which the needle extends from the tubular body 215. The cap 211
is formed with a transverse wall 223 which is pierced by the other
end 221 of the hooked needle as it approaches the second position
to provide communication between the chamber A and the one end 210
of the needle.
In use the chamber A is evacuated and if the one end of the needle
is caused to enter the body of a patient just prior to the needle
being moved fully into the second position body fluids will be
drawn into the chamber on the needle being moved fully to the
second position.
It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention
need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiment
described above.
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